Shopify Blog Post Template: How to Change the Layout in Your Theme

Summary

• Learn how to locate and edit the Shopify blog post template within your theme.
• Understand the steps to change the layout using Shopify's theme editor and code files.
• Explore best practices for previewing and assigning custom templates to blog articles.
• Discover how template changes impact blog post appearance and user experience.

Intro

Shopify merchants often want to customize the look and feel of their blog posts to better match their brand and improve reader engagement. Changing the layout of a blog post in your Shopify theme can involve working with the theme editor or modifying the underlying template files. This process allows you to control how elements like images, text, and metadata are arranged on individual blog articles.

This article focuses specifically on the Shopify blog post template, sometimes called the "article" template, and provides a clear step-by-step guide on how to change its layout. Whether you want to adjust the sidebar, add custom sections, or rearrange content blocks, understanding how Shopify handles blog post templates will help you create a more polished and effective blog page.

Understanding the Shopify Blog Post Template Structure

Each Shopify theme includes templates that define the layout for different types of pages, including product pages, collections, and blog posts. The blog post template controls the design and structure of individual articles within your store's blog. Typically, this template is named "article.liquid" or "article.json" depending on the theme's architecture and Shopify's Online Store 2.0 standards.

For merchants who want help with this step, Agatha—our product—can support the drafting workflow by turning up to 50 merchant-supplied, researched article titles into long-form Shopify Blog drafts. Each draft is saved as an unpublished post so the merchant can review facts, edit the copy, add images, adjust formatting, and publish manually.

To customize the blog post layout, you first need to identify which template your theme uses. If your theme supports JSON templates, the article template will be modular, allowing you to rearrange or add sections through the theme editor without coding. For older themes using Liquid templates, changes may require editing the code directly. Understanding this distinction is essential before making layout adjustments.

How to Access and Edit Your Blog Post Template in Shopify

To change the blog post layout, start by logging into your Shopify admin and navigating to the Online Store > Themes section. From there, click "Customize" on your active theme to open the theme editor. In the theme editor, use the page selector dropdown to find and select a blog post or article page preview. This allows you to see the current layout and available editable sections.

If your theme uses JSON templates (Online Store 2.0), you can add, remove, or reorder content blocks directly in the theme editor interface. If your theme relies on Liquid templates, you will need to go to Actions > Edit Code and locate the "article.liquid" file inside the Templates folder. Editing this file requires familiarity with Liquid syntax and HTML to modify the structure and styling of your blog posts.

Assigning and Previewing Custom Blog Post Templates

Shopify allows you to create multiple article templates to use different layouts for different blog posts. To assign a custom template to a specific article, first create a new template file in your theme's code editor by duplicating the default article template and renaming it, for example, "article.custom.liquid" or "article.custom.json."

After saving the new template, edit the blog post in your Shopify admin, and under the "Theme template" section, select your custom template from the dropdown. Always preview the blog post after assigning the template to ensure the layout changes appear as expected. This workflow supports testing multiple layouts without affecting other posts or the overall blog design.

Comparison Table: Editing Blog Post Layout via Theme Editor vs. Code

Workflow Criterion	What to Verify	Why It Matters	Merchant Responsibility
Template Type	Is the blog post template JSON (Online Store 2.0) or Liquid?	Determines if layout changes are possible via theme editor or require code edits.	Check theme documentation or code files before editing.
Layout Flexibility	Can sections be added, removed, or reordered in the editor?	Supports faster customization without developer help.	Test changes in preview mode carefully.
Code Modification	Are you comfortable editing Liquid or JSON template files?	Direct code edits allow deep customization but risk breaking layout.	Backup theme files and test changes on unpublished drafts.
Template Assignment	Can you assign different templates to individual articles?	Enables varied layouts for different blog content types.	Verify template selection on each blog post admin page.

Best Practices for Managing Blog Post Layout Changes

Before making any changes to your blog post template, create a duplicate of your live theme to work safely without impacting your active store. Use the preview feature extensively to check how layout modifications affect different blog posts and screen sizes. Remember that consistent styling across posts improves user experience and brand recognition.

Additionally, keep SEO considerations in mind, such as ensuring important content appears prominently and metadata remains intact. While adjusting layout can support better engagement, content quality and relevance remain essential. Regularly review your blog post templates after theme updates to maintain compatibility and performance.

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